Excessive Heat Warning For The City of Alexandria, Virginia

The National Weather Service has issued an Excessive Heat Warning for the entire Washington, DC metropolitan region, including the City of Alexandria, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. today.

The hot temperatures, combined with high humidity, will cause heat indices to reach 110 degrees, or more. Excessive heat is expected to last through tomorrow evening, and the combination of hot temperatures and high humidity will create a situation in which heat-related illnesses can occur.

For information on City facilities available as cooling centers, City pools, and tips on remaining healthy in the heat, visit http://alexandriava.gov/48452.

City of Alexandria Birthday Celebration - Time Change

In order to protect the public health and safety of residents, visitors and businesses, the City’s Birthday Celebration program will run as scheduled beginning at 7:30 p.m. instead of 4 p.m. Oronoco Bay Park will be open to the public all day, but the Birthday Celebration will not kick off until 7:30 p.m., and the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra concert will begin at 8:30 p.m., with fireworks to follow at 9:30 p.m.

The heat wave affecting the Mid-Atlantic is forecast to continue this weekend, with a Heat Warning and temperatures of more than 102 degrees with Code Red Air Quality expected on Saturday, July 7. 

The City advises that persons who are elderly, people with chronic health or fragile medical conditions, and infants and young children not attend, due to the potential for heat-related illness. If you are in doubt as to whether you and your family can handle the heat, stay home. Even young and healthy people can get sick from prolonged exposure if they do not adequately protect themselves. Air-conditioning is the number-one protective factor against heat-related illness and death.

Residents who are planning to attend the Birthday Celebration should take the following steps to protect themselves from the excessive heat:

• Drink 2 to 4 glasses of cool fluids each hour.
• Wear loose, light-colored clothing and stay in the shade outdoors whenever possible.
• Protect yourself from the sun’s rays by wearing sunscreen, a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, and bring an umbrella for shade.
• Monitor people around you for signs of heat-related illness. · Don't drink liquids that contain alcohol or large amounts of sugar, which can cause you to lose more body fluid. 
• Avoid very cold drinks, because they may cause stomach cramps. 

 At the event, Verizon will provide free Internet and worldwide telephone services in an air-conditioned mobile unit so people can make phone calls and access the Internet while seeking relief from the heat.

July 4 Power Outage @ Carlyle Towers - FYI

As most of you are aware, we experienced another power outage yesterday morning. We lost power at approximately 5:30 am - it was restored at approximately 7:45 am.

Dominion Power customer service informed management that the outage was necessary to correct problems in their system that resulted from the recent storm. No notice was given prior to the outage. The customer service representative also informed management, unfortunately, that other outages may be necessary as they continue to correct issues in their system. Customer service informed management that Alexandria was the hardest hit with regard to damage – it was categorized as "catastrophic."

Hopefully, additional outages will not be necessary.

Calling All Blood Donors! INOVA Needs You!

INOVA needs blood and has issued a call for blood donors.

Via Old Town Alexandria Patch

Inova Blood Donor Services is calling for eligible blood donors to visit their local blood center or mobile blood drive to donate blood or platelets as soon as possible.

Donors may schedule an appointment, or find a blood drive or donor center in proximity by visiting www.inova.org/donateblood or calling 1-866-BLOODSAVES, or 866-256-6372.

"The inventory of blood at Inova has been severely impacted by a lower than normal blood donor participation rate attributable to an unseasonably mild early spring coupled with summer activities and vacations,” said Inova Blood Donor Services Director Terri Craddock. “This has lead to critically low inventory levels of blood and platelets, leaving hospitals vulnerable in response to emergency patients as well as challenged in meeting in or out-patient procedures requiring the use of blood and blood products."

Inova must collect daily approximately 250 units to keep up with demand, yet collections have dropped to between 150 to 200 units daily. All blood types are needed, but especially O positive, O negative, B negative and A negative in order to meet patient demand this summer.

Blood testing can take 24 to 48 hours before the blood is available to patients.

*Traffic Advisory* Seminary Road Closed Between Echols Ave and Beauregard St

A water main break has occurred at Seminary Road and Fairbanks Avenue. Seminary Road is currently closed in both directions between Echols Avenue and Beauregard Street. Please use alternate routes. If your water service is affected, please call Virginia American Water at 1.800.452.6863.

The Ring Of Fire (Video)

It's not going to be quite as hot as Friday or yesterday but the heat wave still continues.

Many Traffic Lights Still Dark Around Alexandria - Be Careful! (Video)

Many intersections remain dark and continue to be dangerous - please treat these as 4 way stops as the law requires. The police are still spread too thin to cover all of the intersections.

Streets Remain Closed Due To DC Storm

These eight city streets remain closed in Alexandria, Va.:

• Mosby Street at West Mount Ida Avenue 
• Roosevelt Street at Scroggins Street 
• 1800 block of Russell Road 
• 2200 block of Beauregard Street 
• 200 block of Queen Street 
• 100 block of North West Street 
• 300 block of Alabama Avenue 
• 2700 block of Kenwood Avenue 

The streets are closed because fallen trees have become entangled with power lines and, for safety reasons cannot be cleared until crews from Dominion Power are available. Residents are advised to be patient and to stay away from these streets until further notice.